Grant
Administrator
Grease fire destroys Carmel Wendy's
By BRIAN J. HOWARD
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: December 16, 2006)
CARMEL - A popular fast-food eatery was destroyed this morning after a grease fire broke out in the kitchen as employees were preparing to open for the day.
No one was injured, but the Wendy's restaurant at Carmel's Putnam Plaza was completely destroyed by the blaze, which started around five minutes to 8 this morning.
Three workers were inside when the fire started. They got out safely and dialed 911.
Putnam Sheriff's Deputy Luigi Ossi was first on the scene and attempted to put out the fire, emptying two fire extinguishers in the process. Carmel Fire Chief Bob Lipton called it a total loss.
"Grease fires are the worst kind of fire we can have," said Lipton, who arrived to find smoke pouring through the ceiling of the building. "I hate to say it, but we knew we were in for a fight."
Besides Carmel, firefighters from Brewster, Lake Carmel, Mahopac and Kent responded, along with Lake Carmel ambulance. After attempting to fight the fire from inside, they were forced to pull back and extinguish it from the exterior, Lipton said.
The fire was initially reported as an explosion, but that was contained to the kitchen area. The resulting damage, however, included the ceiling caving in, most of the windows blown out and portions of exterior walls broken through.
Putnam Plaza was mostly empty when the fire started. Judith and Philip Schoen of Mahopac arrived at Starbuck's around 10 minutes after 8 and saw smoke pouring from the restaurants and firefighters already on the scene.
Judith Schoen, who captured the scene on her camera phone, said she watched firefighters smash through the drive-thru window to get at the fire.
Putnam Plaza has been seeing revitalization, with construction well underway to convert a former department store near the Wendy's into a supermarket. A fitness club is proposed for the other anchor location.
Route 6 remains closed in both directions, and motorists are advised to use alternate routes.
By BRIAN J. HOWARD
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: December 16, 2006)
CARMEL - A popular fast-food eatery was destroyed this morning after a grease fire broke out in the kitchen as employees were preparing to open for the day.
No one was injured, but the Wendy's restaurant at Carmel's Putnam Plaza was completely destroyed by the blaze, which started around five minutes to 8 this morning.
Three workers were inside when the fire started. They got out safely and dialed 911.
Putnam Sheriff's Deputy Luigi Ossi was first on the scene and attempted to put out the fire, emptying two fire extinguishers in the process. Carmel Fire Chief Bob Lipton called it a total loss.
"Grease fires are the worst kind of fire we can have," said Lipton, who arrived to find smoke pouring through the ceiling of the building. "I hate to say it, but we knew we were in for a fight."
Besides Carmel, firefighters from Brewster, Lake Carmel, Mahopac and Kent responded, along with Lake Carmel ambulance. After attempting to fight the fire from inside, they were forced to pull back and extinguish it from the exterior, Lipton said.
The fire was initially reported as an explosion, but that was contained to the kitchen area. The resulting damage, however, included the ceiling caving in, most of the windows blown out and portions of exterior walls broken through.
Putnam Plaza was mostly empty when the fire started. Judith and Philip Schoen of Mahopac arrived at Starbuck's around 10 minutes after 8 and saw smoke pouring from the restaurants and firefighters already on the scene.
Judith Schoen, who captured the scene on her camera phone, said she watched firefighters smash through the drive-thru window to get at the fire.
Putnam Plaza has been seeing revitalization, with construction well underway to convert a former department store near the Wendy's into a supermarket. A fitness club is proposed for the other anchor location.
Route 6 remains closed in both directions, and motorists are advised to use alternate routes.